Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-30
A MONTH In IRONS.
a sailors Charges Against the Cap
tain OF the CBdauuted.
fNoxy Xnrb Tfenae

New YORK lIfnee.J
The American ship Undaunted ar
rived from San Francisco uia Cape
Horn early yesterday morning and
dropped anchor at quarantine. Cap
tain Joseph p. Hamilton was rowed
ashore, and about noon returned with
Deputy Marshal Jeffries and warrant
for the arrest of Stephen Hanley, one
of the crew. The hatch was lifted
off the lazarette hold and frowzy,
dirt begrimed head bobbed up. follow
ed by pair of broad shoulders, clad
in ragged blue woollen shirt. A cou-
pie of sailors caught hold OF the man
under the arms and lifted him up on
deck. Heavy irons encircled both his
ankles and wrists. His cheeks were
hollow, his eyes sunken, his lips were
bloodless, and his entire countenance
bore signs of great suffering. This
was Stephen Hanley, who was to be
arrested on the captains complaint for
disobeying orders and threatening the
life of the skipper on the high seas.
Hanley was Immediately taken ashore
by Deputy Marshal Jeffries, aud, after
an interview with the United States
District Attorney, was committed to
Ludlow-Street Jail to await his examina
ton before Commissioner Griffiths to-
morrow noon. Captain Hamilton de-
clined to give any particulars of the
sailors disobedience or attempt upon
his life until called upon to do so at
the examination. Hanley, however,
was willing to talk.
81 shipped at San Francisco for the
voyage to New York, he said, "as an
able-bodied seaman. When we were a
week out Captain Hamilton wanted to
make me boatswain, but didn't want
the responsibility, and told him so.
Ny reason for refusing the promotion
was that the captain and first mate had
been treating the sailors brutally after
the first day out, knocking them down
and keeping them on half rations. l
was afraid that if 1 became boatswain
would be compelled to take hand
in it. just said 1 didn't want the po-
sition. That made the Captain mad,
and he swore he'd get even with me.
Well, on July 23d he got his opportu-
nifty. 1 Was at work scraping the main
mast with my knife, when he came on
deck and asked me If | had milestone
with me. / simply said NO, and be-
cause / didn't add the usual sir to it
he ordered me down on deck. |
obeyed, and presently stood before him
with my scraping-knife still in my
hand. He caught sight of my knife,
and, calling a couple of the sailors, he
ordered them to take il away from me
and put me in irons. L offered no re-
sistance, for it would have been useless.
After l had been ironed hand and foot
L was put down in the lazarette,
foul-smelling hole about four feet
square. When the hatch was
fastened down over me had to curl
myself up in a half-sitting posture.
The place was as hot as Gn oven and L
couldn't half breathe. 1t was five days
before l was given anything to lie on,
and even then it was dirty and ragged
blanket. Bread and water was all |
was given to eat, and not drop of
water to wash myself with. | was kept
in that hole until our arrival here this
morning, thirty-one days in all, and
was never once allowed to leave it.
My sufierings were something ter
rible. The nauseous smell of the
place, the hot air, and the cramped po-
sition was compelled to keep nearly
drove me mad, and if had been able
to do so, believe should have killed
myself I'm so stiff and sore now that
l can hardly move. I'm glad enough
to be even in Jail now, for can stretch
myself out once more and have plenty
to eat. Several of the crew will cor
roborate what / have said"
Hanley is rather intelligent man of
middle age and strong, muscular build.